Child Care Service Provisions of Children in Government Preschools of Debre Markos Town
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Date
2021-06
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Publisher
AAU
Abstract
The main objective of this research was to explore the situation of child care service
provisions in government preschools of Debre Markos town. To achieve this objective, a
descriptive research design with qualitative approach was employed. Data collection
instruments used in this study were observation, key informant interviews, and focus
group discussions. Participants of the study were 10 principals, 10 preschool facilitators,
1 preschool education expert, 20 parents, and 2 health extension workers from Debre
Markos town health center who support the preschools. The data were analyzed using the
thematic analysis technique. The findings of the study revealed that the child care service
provisions of preschools seem to be inadequate. The outside environment of preschools
was also not favorable. Positively there was a little bit start of collaboration efforts in
preschools with parents and government to facilitate a better physical environment and
to fulfill child care service facilities. The overall result indicated that preschools have
problems to fulfill child care service facilities. The majority of preschool teachers in
government preschool settings had no special training in providing child care services;
there was no any care giver in the preschools, majority of government preschool settings
had poor indoor and outdoor care services and facilities, all of the preschools had no
standardized and separated dining and sleeping rooms, poor health, nutrition, hygiene
and sanitation service provision, no follow-up and controlling system, etc. There was no
special attention and sufficient budget allocation for preschools from the concerned
bodies. Better coordination and strong commitments of stakeholders are highly required
to standardize the existing poor status of preschools' child care service provision. In
addition, technical supports and close follow-up systems are required from the Debre
Markos town education office and the East Gojjam Zone Education department both to
improve the existing status of facilities and care services.
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Keywords
childcare, facilitators, indoor, outdoor and preschool